According to a release from the Lake Carriers' Association, US-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 9.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in October, an increase of 14.4 percent compared to a year ago. The total was also slightly ahead of October's long-term average, but 1 percent below the 9.9 million tons the fleet moved in September.
US-flag lakers moved 4.4 million tons of iron ore in October, 73.7 percent of all ore moving on the Lakes/Seaway that month. The 4.4 million tons represent a 15.8 percent increase over a year ago, and a 5.1 percent increase compared to October's long-term average.
When making comparisons with a year ago, it must be remembered that US-flag lakers lost approximately 2,000 hours waiting out the storms that accompanied Hurricane Sandy.
Through October the US-flag float stands at 73.3 million tons, an increase of 1.2 percent compared to a year ago, and iron ore cargos are up by 93,000 tons.